Can I Take Melatonin With Antidepressants?

Melatonin is a highly fat-soluble hormone that is produced by the pineal gland in the brain to regulate sleep cycles. During the night, your body produces more melatonin, which causes you to sleep. During the day, light reduces melatonin production, causing you to stay awake longer.

Over-the-counter melatonin supplements are commonly used to treat:

• Depression
• Insomnia (melatonin levels tend to be low in people with this sleeping disorder)
• Dementia
• Chronic pain

Melatonin supplements are generally safe. However, they can have a few side effects if taken for short periods:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Nausea
• Dry mouth
• Constipation

Melatonin is considered safe in doses of 3 mg per day for children orally and 5 mg per day in adolescents and adults.

If you are trying to conceive, however, melatonin supplements may have the same effects as birth control pills and make pregnancy more difficult. Avoid melatonin while pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

People with bleeding disorders should avoid melatonin supplements because they can worsen the condition. Similarly, since melatonin intake can raise blood pressure, people with high blood pressure should avoid using melatonin supplements.

Antidepressants are a class of drugs that are used to treat depression, some anxiety disorders, and chronic pain conditions. These drugs can also help manage some addictions.

Antidepressants help balance the chemicals in the brain responsible for regulating mood, concentration, and sleep. These medications often take 4-6 weeks to work effectively.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the commonly prescribed antidepressants that include:

• Fluoxetine
• Sertraline
• Paroxetine
• Escitalopram

Side effects of antidepressants vary from person to person and may include:

• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Weight gain
• Sexual dysfunction

The risk of birth defects is low in women taking antidepressants during pregnancy. A few antidepressants, such as Paxil and Pexeva (paroxetine), however, are contraindicated during pregnancy. Consult your doctor to manage depression if you are pregnant or planning to conceive.

• Blood pressure medications: Melatonin may decrease their effectiveness
• Anticoagulants and antiplatelets: Melatonin decreases the blood clotting (coagulation) ability and increases the risk of bleeding
• Diabetes medications: Melatonin can cause blood sugar levels to drop too low when taken with diabetes medications
• Immunosuppressants: Melatonin may impact their effectiveness